Therapists for college students near New York, NY
Is life feeling out of control? Are you struggling with significant life changes, relationship issues, grief, immigration and acculturation challenges, or in need of trauma processing? Maybe it’s time to talk with someone. You don’t have to face these challenges alone—I'm here to help and make it easier for you. As a first-generation Chinese American immigrant, I understand many of these struggles on a personal level, and so many of my clients find that connection valuable to open up to me. I am confident that with my experience and personalized approach, I can guide you toward a positive direction in life. My clients often express that they feel heard and safe during our sessions with my naturally warm and empathetic demeanor, but also challenge them at a capacity for growth. Outside of my work, I enjoy spending time with my family and my pug, watching dramas, reading books, and staying in quiet places—all of which help me stay grounded and balanced. What do you do to feel grounded? It’s completely normal to feel uncertain about starting therapy, especially if it’s new to you or you don’t know me yet. I encourage you to book a consultation with me. I’d love to address your hesitations and support you on your journey toward a better life. I’m here for you, but I need you to take that first step so we can navigate this path together.
“I want to feel happier and less depressed.” “We would like to improve our relationship.” “I would like to feel calmer and more in control, in spite of the stress, loss and trauma I have experienced.” “We want to help our children cope with our divorce.” “We need to figure out how we are going to live as a divorced family.” These are some of the most frequent goals of my clients as we work together. Many of the stresses and conflicts my clients face can be due to life’s experiences and losses or can come from within. Stress and conflict can lead to disintegration of relationships with our partners and our children, and even in how we view ourselves. Strengthening coping skills, emotional connection and intimacy can help repair fractures, increase compassionate understanding, and build closeness. Focusing on positive growth, shifting well-engrained patterns, and building greater self-acceptance can create lasting change and happiness. As a clinical psychologist with over 40 years of experience, I help adults, couples and families, by integrating many different therapeutic approaches to best fit my clients’ needs.
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Embarking on a therapeutic journey is a deeply personal and transformative experience. It takes courage to seek support, and I deeply respect the vulnerability that comes with that step. My approach is rooted in empathy, collaboration, and a commitment to creating a safe space where you feel truly heard and understood. With specialized training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Faith-Based Therapies, Psychodynamic Therapy, Strength-Based Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, I offer a comprehensive and personalized approach to healing. Whether you are seeking structured, evidence-based techniques, exploring the deeper roots of emotional challenges, or looking for strength in faith-based perspectives, I tailor each session to meet your individual needs. My goal is to support you in overcoming obstacles, fostering resilience, and cultivating meaningful personal growth. Therapy is not a one-size-fits-all process, and together, we will work toward building meaningful progress at a pace that feels right for you. Choosing the right therapist is a significant decision. With me, you'll find a professional who listens without judgment, guides with patience, and encourages growth in an environment that fosters trust and healing.
Hi! I am always impressed with the courage and resilience that brings people to therapy in search of who they are meant to be. Many of my clients come to me with a desire to improve their relationships with themselves and with others. My aim is to guide you towards your inner wisdom and becoming your most authentic self. To do so, I am committed to creating an environment where you can explore freely and challenge yourself. My style is down-to-earth and good-humored. I enjoy collaborating with clients on finding the roots of an issue and engaging their strengths for healing and growth. I integrate creative and evidence-based methods to resolve and renew what words cannot. As someone who is dedicated to providing the best care possible, I also combine insights with some of the most efficient, brain-smart methods available.
By the time people reach out to me, they often feel overwhelmed, stuck, and unable to move forward. Do you struggle with anxiety and fear, constantly on edge, and unable to relax? Do you feel isolated and alone in your experience? Are your relationships suffering, leaving you feeling guilty and ashamed, unsure of how to cope? Are you experiencing uncontrollable nightmares and flashbacks? Many people facing these symptoms of trauma feel hopeless, saying, "I feel like I'm losing myself and need help finding my way back. I'm afraid to talk about it, but I know I need to." Therapy with me begins exactly where you are. I will be your guide, offering support and virtually holding your hand throughout your healing journey. Together, we will: Improve your understanding of trauma and its impact on your thoughts and feelings. Reduce avoidance behaviors and difficulties in experiencing positive emotions. Alleviate distress related to traumatic memories. Decrease feelings of anxiety, anger, guilt, and shame. Enhance your day-to-day living, and improve your relationship with yourself and others. By the end of therapy with me, you'll find relief from past pain, feel calmer and happier, and see improvements in your daily life and relationships. Feeling safe in a therapeutic setting is paramount. As survivors, it’s natural to want to get to know the specialist you’re working with before sharing difficult feelings and your story. I invite you to book a consultation to see if we are the right fit. Let’s embark on this journey together towards healing and transformation.
Alex Straaik, MA, MS, PMHNP-BC (She/Her) is a board certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner specializing in psychopharmacology. Ms. Straaik has a diverse academic background, including a Master of Science from The Ohio State University, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Writing, Literature, and Publishing and a Master of Arts in Writing and Publishing from Emerson College. She is extremely passionate about providing empathetic and empowering care that respects and values our unique life experiences and truths. Ms. Straaik takes a collaborative, intersectional, and person-centered approach, mindfully crafting a safe and supportive space for all. She worked as the sole psychiatric provider on an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team, where she provided psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and psychoeducation to underserved individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, as well as at an outpatient community mental health center treating a wide array of disorders related to anxiety, mood, psychosis, and trauma. Ms. Straaik is an LGBTQ+ affirming provider with training and experience working with the community and is deeply committed to providing culturally and structurally competent care. In her free time, she enjoys all things literary, studying Spanish, and exploring the great outdoors. Ms. Straaik practices holistic and evidence-based psychiatry and is excited to be a part of the dynamic and like-minded team at Modern Integrative Psychiatry. If you would like to make an appointment to see Alex Straaik, MA, MS, PMHNP-BC for a medication evaluation and consultation, please click this link “SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT” to be taken to the secure scheduling website.
Hello, I’m glad you’re here! Seeking help takes great courage, vulnerability, and trust, and I am here to listen compassionately, navigate life’s challenges with you, and help you identify and meet your goals for therapy. As your therapist-in-training, I will cultivate a safe space that is free of judgment, brings your voice to the forefront, and fosters shared understanding. Throughout our sessions, we will work together to develop a collaborative partnership that is centered around your unique circumstances, values, and aims. We will explore your greater context to develop a holistic view of your concerns, and delve into your personalized therapeutic goals. Overall, my therapeutic approach affirms your strengths, self-worth, and self-efficacy; promotes hope, motivation, and positive well-being; and empowers you to take practical, attainable steps towards achieving growth and healing. I am eager to support you in your mental wellness journey! I am currently a second-year student pursuing my Master of Social Work at Columbia University. Over the past few years, I have worked as a Crisis Counselor at Crisis Text Line, a Listener at 7 Cups, and a peer counselor at USC; these opportunities have given me experience working with people with depression, anxiety, life transitions, relationship issues, loneliness, stress, and burnout. Rachel Tan is a therapist-in-training at Sol Health. Sol Health is a digital health startup that offers $30 therapy to Gen Zs by connecting them with therapists-in-training accruing clinical hours.
Experience Psychotherapy is a psychotherapy practice grounded in the understanding that working with experience in the present moment is a profoundly powerful building block for promoting personal growth and health. I work with people collaboratively to develop the skills to navigate life and relationships with more confidence and flexibility. College is often a time in life of great growth and transition. This can be exciting, but also stressful and disorienting. Therapy can be a place to organize ourselves in the midst of these stressful periods. Michael can work with plans that have out of network coverage.
I provide a safe space for people to sort out their most difficult life challenges and celebrate their prideful/joyous moments and accomplishments. Every individual is the expert on their experience, but at times can benefit from evidence based tools, skills and perceptions to aid in maximizing their potential to living a fulfilling, stress-reduced life. Together we will explore these experiences, where I will provide psychoeducation and evidence based interventions to facilitate growth and relief. I am skilled in Positive Psychology, CBT, REBT, DBT, Solution- Focused therapy, Existential Psychology and other evidence based practices.
At Tona Therapy, we specialize in providing trauma-informed care with a focus on somatic practices to help you heal and grow. We work with adults from diverse identity groups, including women, young adults, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Our expertise spans trauma, dating, self-esteem, life transitions, and romantic relationships. What makes us unique is our compassionate, client-centered approach. We understand how trauma can impact both the mind and body, so we integrate somatic techniques to help you reconnect with your body and process past experiences. Our goal is to create a safe, non-judgmental space where you can feel fully supported and empowered. Together, we’ll explore your challenges, build resilience, and help you move forward with confidence. Whether you’re healing from past trauma or navigating life’s transitions, we’re here to support you with empathy, understanding, and holistic practices. At Tona Therapy, we’re dedicated to helping you create a fulfilling, authentic life rooted in healing and growth.
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The students I work best with are curious, thoughtful, and often in a period of deep self-questioning. Many are figuring out who they are, what they believe, and what kind of life they want to build. Some have experimented with psychedelics and are left with big questions afterward about meaning, identity, emotions, or reality itself. They want support in making sense of those experiences in a grounded, non-judgmental way. I also work well with students who feel alone or disconnected, especially when that feeling traces back to childhood experiences, family dynamics, or early trauma. These students may struggle with anxiety, sadness, shame, or a sense that they don’t quite belong. Therapy with me is a space to slow down, feel understood, and explore what’s coming up without pressure to have it all figured out.
Welcome! I am a clinical psychologist and drama therapist, seeing individuals and couples in New York. I work with adults and teens ages 15+. Clients I work with are often seeking to reduce distress, trust themselves more, and feel more equipped in their life journeys. A primary aim of treatment is to increase self-awareness and connection to the body, freeing a more expansive self, and allowing old patterns and obstacles (i.e. emotional avoidance, self-criticism) to melt away. Therapy can help reveal how your past is impacting your present, which often leads to self-compassion, and healing and change in the present. Perhaps you are wanting to feel more comfortable with the unknown, whether that be challenging emotions, uncertainty about the future, or existential questions, like what is the meaning of my one precious life? We are living through uncertain times collectively and individually, and therapy with me is a space where these questions are welcomed. I believe the therapeutic relationship is at the heart of healing, and I show up in the room with warmth and authenticity. My approach is integrative. I have advanced training in an attachment-based psychodynamic approach called Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy, and in experiential, creative, somatic-based approaches including drama therapy and internal family systems. I also practice mindfulness and am an artist myself, and this informs the work I do. My approach is person-centered, which means I adapt treatment based on the unique individual(s) I am sitting with. I have extensive experience in working with LGBTQ+ clients, those with a history of trauma, folks navigating illness, and other healers and artists. I am part of Mount Sinai Health Partners, and remain involved in training of doctoral trainees at Mount Sinai. I am presently on the faculty of the NYU Masters in Drama Therapy program, and was previously an Assistant Professor in the Psychiatry Department at Mount Sinai. I have worked and trained in hospitals, including in adult and adolescent transgender healthcare, in outpatient centers, Veterans hospitals, and counseling centers.
Are you in the midst of navigating young adulthood, trying to carve out your own identity? This journey is exciting, yet it can also feel overwhelming and uncertain. Do you often feel the weight of expectations from family, friends, or society, pushing you toward specific paths—like what college to attend or which career to pursue? From the outside, is your life “together” or “on track” but on the inside, you’re struggling with anxiety and self-esteem? If so, you’re not alone. I’m here to help you explore who you are and who you truly want to be. It’s completely normal to experience anxiety, stress, or confusion during this pivotal time in your life. Your role in your family is changing as you grow into an adult. Social media and comparison may be making you feel inadequate. These are real and intense pressures of young-adulthood. Together, we’ll develop skills to make real change in managing your anxiety, building your self-esteem, and empowering you to embrace your authentic self. Utilizing a blend of Psychodynamic Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, I guide young people in processing emotions, understanding past experiences, and developing concrete skills to feel more empowered and in control. Our therapy sessions will provide a safe and affirming space for you to explore your thoughts and feelings. As an LGBTQ-affirming therapist, I create an inclusive space where people of all identities can feel accepted. This period of life is all about exploration and self-discovery, and I’m here to support you every step of the way.